Benjamin Daise

Benjamin Daise, a quiet, kind, and generous man, died on December 28, 2020, at age 78. One of nine children born to Kathleen and Henry Daise, Sr., he grew up on St. Helena Island, off the coast of South Carolina. He was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Henry, Jr., Mildred and Osalami, and his niece Jennifer.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Laurel Spencer Daise, and her children Jeffery and Joseph Hessney;  grandson John Hessney-Green, as well as his siblings Catherine (Robert), Irene, Vera (Otis), Stanley (Aminese) and Ronald (Natalie).

He is a graduate of Morehouse College with a junior year abroad in Vienna, and post-graduate work in Philosophy at Haverford College. He received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Texas in Austin. 

His joys were learning and teaching, and indeed he was proud to have been a professor at Hobart William Smith for 38 years, cherishing the lifelong friendships he made there with colleagues and students.

In adherence to Benjamin’s wishes, there will be no services. Kindly consider a donation to Foodlink Rochester, 1999 Mt. Read Blvd. Rochester, NY 14615 or Crisis Nursery of Rochester, 201 Genesee Park Blvd., Rochester, NY 14619.

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